THE SPRING 2012 The Duquesne University School of Law Magazine for Alumni and Friends JUDGE RICHARD A. POSNER ONE Judge’s VIEW MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN “Our Second Century Has Arrived” This has been a year unlike any other California who has been directing the clinic for Duquesne Law School. We celebrated at Pepperdine Law School for over 15 years. our centennial in grand style—it would Professor Serafino comes to us with a wealth have made a hundred years’ worth of past of experience and ambitious new goals. She Law School graduates proud. Now, the first will be assisted by Professor Tracey McCants months of our second century have arrived. Lewis (who was recently promoted to a Already, we have shattered past tenure-track position), Professor Joseph fundraising goals. I am proud to report Sabino Mistick (who founded our Clinic that our Centennial Fundraising Campaign two decades ago) and our talented Law is now the most successful non-building Clinic team. We are now poised to achieve fundraising campaign in the history of the national prominence with our Clinic, just as Law School. Thus far, we have received over we did with our Legal Research & Writing $2 million in gifts and pledges, eclipsing program—now ranked sixth in the United the former record of $1.16 million raised States—several years ago. That was made during the “Celebration of Excellence” in possible because an anonymous alumnus the 1990s. Equally remarkable, every class stepped forward to fund the beautiful Bridget with living graduates contributed to the fundraising drive—an & Al Peláez Legal Writing Center, literally transforming this unprecedented level of participation. program and our Law School. Our Centennial Campaign is not yet over. My goal, before The University has acquired a building on Fifth Avenue, it is complete, is to break the $3.1 million record set in the late across from the CONSOL Energy Center in a vibrant area of 1970s, when the current building—Edward J. Hanley Hall— Uptown Pittsburgh that would serve our needs for the Clinic was constructed to move the Law School out of Rockwell Hall. perfectly. We are now seeking individual alumni, law firms and As was true when that earlier generation marshaled resources other donors to make our dream become a reality by naming to provide students with a new home and facilities in which the Law Clinic program itself; naming the building on Fifth to transform themselves into sharp lawyers and confident Avenue that will house it; and naming other components of professionals, we must give our students the best educational the whole—the spectacular new conference room, the moot environment possible, so that they can excel in an increasingly court room and the faculty office areas—that will make up competitive market. the impressive, state-of-the-art new Law Clinic. (See sidebar on Today, as legal education continues to evolve, Duquesne page 21.) Law School is desperately in need of a new home for its Clinic. This dream of the Law School will only materialize if Across the country, law schools are recognizing the importance alumni with vision and commitment to the future step forward, of teaching students practical skills through top-notch clinical just as others have stepped forward in the past to allow bold new experiences. Duquesne is already ahead of its time—we have changes to occur so that our graduates can walk into the arena long emphasized practical training; our clinics are already a of legal practice and excel in every way. major force in the region. (See story on page 19.) But success Duquesne Law School’s second century has finally arrived. and progress have caused us to outgrow our space. In addition, I invite you to take a step forward and etch your name into it for we have increasingly recognized the need to move our clinic posterity. into the midst of the community, so that our students can directly serve clients and receive on-the-ground experience With deep appreciation, while contributing to society on a broad and meaningful scale. That is the essence of a Duquesne law degree. It is what sets our graduates apart from all others. We have hired a fabulous new Director of Clinical Legal Ken Gormley Education, Professor Laurie Serafino, a true superstar from Dean and Professor of Law 2 THE DUQUESNE LAWYER 100 Order Your Copy of the Centennial Book CONTENTS FEATURES Judge Richard A. Posner: One Judge’s View 4 An Unusual Practice 6 The 1911 Bar Examination: Honor in the Profession 8 Professor Kenneth Hirsch Retires 10 A Gift for the Ages 17 Centennial Fellows 18 School Seeks Funds for New Clinical Education Building 19 In the Spotlight 22 DEPARTMENTS FacuLTY ACHIEVEMENTS 12 CLASS ACTIONS 24 STUDENT BRIEFS 28 CAREER Services 34 To order copies of our beautiful 100-page, full-color WECHT INSTITUTE 35 commemorative Centennial book, One Hundred Years of Excellence, please contact the Law Alumni office at 412.396.5215 or [email protected]. Price: $25 Proceeds will benefit Law School projects 100 SPRING 2012 3 JUDGE RICHARD A. POSNER Appellate Decision Making and Appellate Advocacy: One Judge’s View An afternoon with Judge Richard A. Posner, inaugural recipient of the Murray Award for Excellence in Scholarship Frank Stoy, President, Appellate Moot Court Board Dean Ken Gormley and University Chancellor John E. Murray Jr. present Judge Richard A. Posner with the Murray Award. The Excellence in Scholarship award was made possible by an endowment fund established by Dr. Murray in 2011 to enhance and enrich the scholarly environment and culture at Duquesne Law School. 4 THE DUQUESNE LAWYER Judge Richard A. Posner’s appearance at the Law School on March 22, 2012, gave all in attendance the opportunity to hear insight from one of our judicial system’s most well-known appellate judges. Through listening to Judge Posner’s prepared remarks, as well as his answers to questions posed by the students, professors and practitioners in attendance, the audience was able to gain a window into the mind of a brilliant legal scholar. While all were fortunate to have this experience, the students in attendance, particularly those with an interest in appellate advocacy, stood to benefit the most. Over the course of the 2011-12 academic year, I have had the privilege of serving as President of the Law School’s inaugural Appellate Moot Court Board. Many students are attracted to appellate moot court because it allows them to step into the shoes of an advocate arguing in front of the highest courts in our judicial system. Accordingly, students who participate in this everyday lives. Most of us in law school today have grown up with co-curricular activity must create, both in writing and orally, these things and take them for granted. In contrast, Judge Posner, intricate arguments that are based not only on the facts of a at age 73, has watched the advent of information technology particular case, but also on the law. In short, a successful appellate from his seat on the Seventh Circuit bench. Nevertheless, the advocate must generate persuasive, scholarly arguments. judge has chosen to regard the increased access to information Needless to say, I was very excited when I found out that provided by the Internet as a useful tool rather than as something Judge Posner was coming to Duquesne to speak. He has served to be regarded with suspicion. As mentioned during his talk, the on the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit lawyers who argue in front of appellate courts would prefer to for over 20 years and is precisely the type of influential jurist be the ones providing all of the information about the case. But young law students dream of appearing in front of someday. with judges now possessing the ability to obtain outside insight As such, the prospect of hearing him lecture was thrilling, and simply by typing a few terms into Google or by doing a quick the experience did not disappoint. search on Wikipedia, this is no longer a reality. In particular, the judge’s reflection upon the influence of Indeed, as noted by Judge Posner, the issues of fact involved technology on the law seemed particularly appropriate given the in many cases have become increasingly complex due to the new role played by computers, the Internet and social media in our technologies involved. Non-traditional litigation ranging from complicated consumer products to the financial industry present judges with new and complex questions. In law school, we are made aware of this problem, but tend to view it from the eyes of the practitioner. Judge Posner’s talk astutely pointed out that the bench must also confront this problem in order to render proper decisions. While this seems daunting, Judge Posner’s point seemed to be that although the ever-changing nature of technology may complicate a case in many different ways, it can also be a source of answers to those complex questions. Judge Posner’s willingness to rely upon new sources of information in order to arrive at the right decision provides a very subtle example of why he is so highly regarded. But more than that, it is an important lesson for students to take away. Hopefully, we can all go forward and approach the practice of law with the same level of pragmatism and resourcefulness. Judge Posner speaks with law students prior to the program. SPRING 2012 5 An Unusual Practice Duquesne alum extols benefits of firm’s sabbatical program Jonathan Higie (standing) and Douglas Nolin, L’84, say the Peacock Keller sabbatical program strengthens their firm.